Tom Falzone, Catasauqua hoping to finish what they started

Rough Riders have dominated through first 11 games this season.

Catasauqua's Head football coach Tom Falzone walks back to the sidelines… (ED KOSKEY JR., SPECIAL TO…)

November 13, 2012|By Tom Housenick, Of The Morning Call

Tom Falzone was a wide-eyed freshman watching from the sidelines as standout running back Jonathan Linton led Catasauqua to a 1992 District 11 football championship.

In 1994-95, Falzone contributed to back-to-back Colonial League title teams.

Now in charge, Falzone led his alma mater this season to its first league title since his playing days and is on the verge of its first district title since he was a teenager.

Yet, the 34-year-old can only shrug his shoulders and offer an apologetic smile when asked about what his Catasauqua football team has done this season.

The Rough Riders have ambushed every team. They've made a mess of the Colonial League by taking a wrecking ball to its first 11 games.

Composite score: 476-84.

Nine mercy-rule games among the 11 victories.

The Colonial League's smallest school in terms of male enrollment has done all of this after losing two returning starters to transfer and having one of the area's best players — Ra'Von Burton — have his playing time limited on offense and reduced to very little defensively because of injury.

But their coach, a 1996 alum, is focused on just one thing these days — cradling a big trophy at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday on Alumni Field.

"It's been a long time," Falzone said. "I hope we can finish what we started. That's the goal."

No one, absolutely no one, thought Catasauqua would be bringing a ridiculous resume to this season's district title game.

The Rough Riders were expected to challenge for the league title, thanks to a solid returning group that qualified for the 2011 Eastern Conference playoffs and snapped a lengthy losing streak on Thanksgiving Day to annual rival Northampton.

But, few could have dreamed up this scenario.

First-year quarterback Zack Bradley has thrown for 1,835 yards and 28 touchdowns with only three interceptions.

Catty has forced a league-best 36 turnovers and committed just eight.

Paryss Marshall and Alex Parker have formed one of the most dangerous pass receiving combos this league has ever seen.

And, they play as a team.

That is what makes Falzone happiest.

"I'm really proud of them," he said. "It's a lot of fun to be around these guys every day."

What is perhaps most impressive is that the Rough Riders have had to do a lot of adjusting on the fly.

Preparation is such a big part of football, but as coaches know, you can't be prepared for everything.

Opponents have come up with all sorts of elaborate defensive schemes designed to slow down and confuse Catty.

It has worked, albeit for a short time.

The Rough Riders have seen odd-man fronts, even fronts, nine players in the box, doubled-up coverage on the wideouts with a free safety. They've seen a lot.

Though they haven't been near perfect against those defenses, it's been so far, so good.

"There were a few times we were in some plays we probably should have gotten out of," Falzone said of last Saturday's district semifinal against Northern Lehigh. "That's on me. But for the most part, we responded to it."

Little seems to rattle this group. They play inspired football, but are not emotionally wild. They are focused, but make sure to have fun.

"Every week teams give us their best shot," Parker said. "We just have to keep playing to our abilities."

Catasauqua left its first meeting with Pen Argyl — a 48-20 mercy-rule win — feeling less than enthusiastic about its performance.

But the Rough Riders make so many big plays that they are able to overcome their mistakes, which included a fumble that turned into a 7-0 first-quarter deficit against the Green Knights.